WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.980 Good to see you all here with us today, whether you're a regular attender or a guest. 00:00:05.100 --> 00:00:08.679 We even have some old faces here we haven't seen in a while. 00:00:08.740 --> 00:00:12.060 It's very, very good to have all of you with us today. 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:18.219 For those of you who are guests, we've been working through the Gospel of Mark verse by verse. 00:00:18.219 --> 00:00:22.480 We find this to be generally the best way to preach. 00:00:22.740 --> 00:00:28.580 We believe that the Scriptures are inerrant, that they contain within them no error whatsoever, 00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:30.039 no contradiction. 00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:35.199 We believe that the Scriptures are authoritative, that they are authored by God 00:00:35.199 --> 00:00:39.299 and therefore should be obeyed as His Word to us. 00:00:39.899 --> 00:00:44.000 We believe that the Scriptures are sufficient, that they contain within them 00:00:44.219 --> 00:00:49.299 everything we need to know for worship and for holiness in our living. 00:00:49.619 --> 00:00:54.039 And we believe in the clarity of Scripture, and that is that we can know 00:00:54.039 --> 00:00:58.359 what God has intended for us to know from His Word. 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:02.719 And so we go through it carefully, verse by verse. 00:01:03.579 --> 00:01:08.980 And today we've come to Mark chapter 12, verses 13 through 17. 00:01:08.980 --> 00:01:11.460 Now I'm going to do something a little bit different, 00:01:12.039 --> 00:01:19.599 as I have for the past countless weeks preached you a 45-minute to an hour sermon. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:24.219 We're going to take a little break from that and give a shorter sermon on this particular text, 00:01:24.699 --> 00:01:28.140 do the Lord's Supper together, and then I'm going to come back and talk a bit about baptism 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:31.719 as we're doing baptisms this morning, just in case you hadn't caught on yet 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:36.079 that that is happening today, to talk a bit about that as well. 00:01:36.219 --> 00:01:41.679 So this is the way we're going to approach our preaching of the Word this morning. 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:48.340 So if you will, follow along as I read to you Mark chapter 12, beginning in verse 13. 00:01:50.520 --> 00:01:56.000 And they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians to trap Him in His talk. 00:01:56.460 --> 00:01:58.120 And they came and said to Him, 00:01:58.780 --> 00:02:02.360 Teacher, we know that You are true and do not care about anyone's opinion, 00:02:02.900 --> 00:02:07.000 for You are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. 00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:11.240 Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:14.099 Should we pay them or should we not? 00:02:15.040 --> 00:02:17.740 But knowing their hypocrisy, He said to them, 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:19.659 Why put me to the test? 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:22.599 Bring me a denarius and let me look at it. 00:02:23.020 --> 00:02:23.980 And they brought one. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:25.680 And He said to them, 00:02:26.219 --> 00:02:28.700 Whose likeness and inscription is this? 00:02:29.300 --> 00:02:31.180 They said to Him, Caesar's. 00:02:31.900 --> 00:02:32.840 Jesus said to them, 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:36.060 Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, 00:02:36.060 --> 00:02:39.540 and to God the things that are God's. 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:41.319 And they marveled at Him. 00:02:42.659 --> 00:02:44.500 This is God's Word to us. 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:46.659 It was written for His glory and our good. 00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:51.960 We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands. 00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:53.319 Let's pray together. 00:02:53.319 --> 00:03:03.900 Father God, we need You in all things at all times, and we certainly need You now. 00:03:03.900 --> 00:03:13.219 So I would pray, Father, that by Your Spirit, You will help me to speak with clarity and with conviction concerning Your Word. 00:03:14.180 --> 00:03:19.319 And we pray, Father, that by Your Spirit, You will rightly apply what is spoken to all of our hearts. 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:21.319 That we might be transformed. 00:03:21.319 --> 00:03:27.780 That we would be changed from our old selves and greater likeness to Christ. 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:32.579 This is the great calling for those of us who claim to follow Him. 00:03:32.580 --> 00:03:36.020 And so have Your way with us to that great end today. 00:03:36.900 --> 00:03:38.200 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:03:39.140 --> 00:03:39.420 Amen. 00:03:39.419 --> 00:03:39.559 Amen. 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:47.479 So, just to catch our minds up quickly to where we are in the life of Jesus, this is what's called Passion Week. 00:03:47.579 --> 00:03:51.560 It's the last week leading up to His crucifixion on Friday. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:59.339 Back at the beginning of chapter 11, He has entered into Jerusalem, called the Triumphal Entry, on Monday. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:02.400 Sunday, some things transpire there. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:10.939 He comes back in on Tuesday, turns over tables in the temple, essentially takes over the temple and begins teaching in this place. 00:04:11.580 --> 00:04:21.840 And then on Wednesday, His authority begins to be challenged by the scribes and the Pharisees, the elders, all of the religious elite of the day. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:29.220 He's come and He's challenging their authority by speaking with authority the Word of God. 00:04:29.979 --> 00:04:37.939 And they want to know who is this man and by what authority is he disrupting the system that they've set up, this apostate Judaism. 00:04:37.939 --> 00:04:47.620 A Judaism that didn't serve to worship God at all, but rather served to puff them up and give them acclaim and to give them praise. 00:04:48.299 --> 00:04:51.699 So we see them ask the question at the end of chapter 11. 00:04:52.579 --> 00:04:56.319 And he very tactfully ignores the question altogether. 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:59.139 Kyle, a couple of weeks ago, spoke well of that. 00:04:59.219 --> 00:05:11.159 And he goes on at the beginning of chapter 12 to tell them a parable to show that they are, these religious leaders, are just like the religious leaders of the past of Israel that killed the prophets. 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:17.459 When God sent prophets to them to turn the people back to God, they killed them, they stoned them, they beat them. 00:05:17.579 --> 00:05:19.740 They didn't listen to what they said. 00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:25.259 And he goes on in the parable to talk about this man that owns this vineyard sending his son. 00:05:25.300 --> 00:05:28.120 And we know that this is Christ in the story. 00:05:28.740 --> 00:05:33.379 And we know that in just a couple of days, the very same thing will happen. 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:34.819 He will be murdered. 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:37.139 He's come on behalf of the Father. 00:05:37.139 --> 00:05:43.899 But those who are in charge of Israel, looking over their spiritual well-being, will have him killed. 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:51.039 And we come here now to this further challenge in verse 13. 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:53.000 Notice in verse 13 it says, 00:05:53.000 --> 00:06:08.300 And they sent, speaking back in Mark chapter 11 verse 27 of the chief priests and the scribes and the elders, all of those at the top of this apostate worship system of God. 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:21.339 They sent to him some of the Pharisees, people of a particular sect, a particular order of Judaism, and some of the Herodians with a very intent purpose. 00:06:21.339 --> 00:06:27.659 This was a special delegation with a specific mission, and that was to trap him in his talk. 00:06:28.339 --> 00:06:35.060 To ask him a question that would cause him to answer in such a way that they could bring about what they've been trying to do all along. 00:06:35.099 --> 00:06:38.919 And we've seen this occur again and again and again in Mark's gospel. 00:06:39.039 --> 00:06:40.719 They're looking to destroy him. 00:06:40.899 --> 00:06:42.519 They're looking to arrest him. 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:47.299 They're trying to get him out of this limelight because the people are listening to what he has to say. 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:52.639 They're recognizing him as one who has authority, and they want him gone. 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:55.259 So they come with this mission. 00:06:55.620 --> 00:06:59.120 So we're fairly familiar with the Pharisees and who they were. 00:06:59.220 --> 00:07:03.420 There were two large Jewish sects, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:08.060 Major difference between the two of them is the Sadducees didn't believe in a resurrection at all. 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:12.519 The Sadducees were much more liberal in their understanding of the law of God. 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:16.919 The Pharisees, much more pharisaical, if you'll allow me. 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:19.199 They were better adherents to it. 00:07:19.299 --> 00:07:21.240 They really tried to follow it strictly. 00:07:21.919 --> 00:07:27.599 In our modern terminology, they would have been the fundamentalists of that day. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:32.279 But we see this other group, which has been mentioned a couple of other times in Mark's gospel, 00:07:32.379 --> 00:07:37.120 but this group called the Herodians, and we need to understand who they were. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:40.980 They are a political sect of Judaism. 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:50.519 A more pointed intention was political, which sought potential freedom from Roman rule through the reign of Herod. 00:07:51.100 --> 00:08:00.360 Herod reigned in this day, existed, was allowed to exist and have some control by the occupying nation of Rome. 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:09.500 They believed that the Herodian dynasty would be favorable to the reestablishment of a Jewish theocracy. 00:08:10.220 --> 00:08:17.480 So it was their hope, they thought, that Herod and his line would have the power to gather the people once again, 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:26.580 to overthrow Rome, and re-put the Jews underneath God's rule in a sense. 00:08:26.579 --> 00:08:32.819 A man who is called by scholars, this is not his real name, he's an unknown author, 00:08:32.939 --> 00:08:35.319 but scholars called him Pseudo-Tuturlian, 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:41.259 wrote in a book that you won't remember the title of, and I probably can't pronounce, so I'm just not going to, 00:08:42.299 --> 00:08:47.360 but wrote in a book where he accused the Herodians of promoting Herod as the Messiah himself. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:51.579 They wanted people to believe that it was through his order, his lineage, 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:56.900 that they were going to be re-established as an independent nation. 00:08:57.100 --> 00:09:02.540 So that's who these men are, this sect, this political sect of Judaism. 00:09:03.400 --> 00:09:09.100 This is just another continuance of an alliance between the Pharisees and the Herodians. 00:09:09.220 --> 00:09:12.080 Back in Mark chapter 3, verse 6, it says, 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:17.140 the Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, 00:09:17.220 --> 00:09:19.600 how to destroy him. 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:25.279 And Jesus, in fact, recognizes the danger of this alliance in Mark 8, verse 15. 00:09:25.659 --> 00:09:28.519 He warns the disciples, he cautions them saying, 00:09:28.940 --> 00:09:34.680 watch out, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:36.820 And the Herodians would have been part of that. 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:43.240 Beware of what they're teaching you, that it doesn't infect the way in which you think. 00:09:43.580 --> 00:09:46.600 So these are the men that come to him with a very specific task, 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:49.399 to trap him in his talk. 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:53.159 But they begin with a bit of flattery. 00:09:53.659 --> 00:09:57.360 A little smart play on their part in verse 14. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:58.659 They came and said to him, 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:03.200 Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion, 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:05.600 for you are not swayed by appearances, 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:08.940 but truly teach the way of God. 00:10:08.940 --> 00:10:12.740 And if we don't understand the context of what they're doing, 00:10:13.300 --> 00:10:15.580 that they're coming, in fact, to trap him, 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:17.540 that they're seeking to destroy him, 00:10:17.540 --> 00:10:21.140 this is a very true statement of who our Lord is. 00:10:21.900 --> 00:10:23.280 That he didn't care. 00:10:23.400 --> 00:10:24.280 He is true. 00:10:24.880 --> 00:10:27.020 Wasn't too concerned about what people thought of him, 00:10:27.060 --> 00:10:29.960 but rather wanted to just follow the way of God. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:33.180 But you must see here, this was false flattery on their part. 00:10:33.640 --> 00:10:34.800 They're saying to him, 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:37.639 we want you to answer the question we're about to ask. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.639 We're giving you the power to do it. 00:10:40.819 --> 00:10:44.299 Please answer this question that we're going to ask of you, 00:10:44.819 --> 00:10:46.459 which was meant to trap him. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.279 That's a rather clever question on their part. 00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:54.259 Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 00:10:54.859 --> 00:10:58.419 Should we pay them or should we not? 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:01.639 Now to understand their tactic, 00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:04.899 we really need to understand the nature of this question, 00:11:05.340 --> 00:11:07.399 and we can't do so without some 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:10.399 socio-political historical knowledge. 00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:13.179 We just can't quite wrap our minds around it. 00:11:13.199 --> 00:11:16.059 This question in our day doesn't nearly make the sense 00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:18.120 that it would have made in that day. 00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:20.580 Now since I'm sure you guys all understand 00:11:20.580 --> 00:11:22.919 the socio-political history of the time, 00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:25.139 for the sake of time we're just going to skip right over it. 00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:26.399 Just kidding, we're not. 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:29.159 We're going to spend some time talking about that. 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:32.819 I learned quite a bit this week in my study of this. 00:11:33.199 --> 00:11:37.959 Why was this question so particularly tactful on their part? 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:38.480 And it was. 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:41.219 It was a rather brilliant question that they asked him. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:45.539 They just didn't know they were asking the Son of God this question. 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:48.939 When they talk about paying a tax, 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:51.500 taxes, plural in most of our translation, 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:56.899 they're referring to a specific tax called the poll tax. 00:11:56.899 --> 00:12:01.159 This tax was instituted in A.D. 6. 00:12:01.419 --> 00:12:04.379 Now remember, we're most likely in A.D. 33. 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:06.179 Most people agree upon this. 00:12:06.699 --> 00:12:09.659 Some don't, so I'll say most likely A.D. 33. 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:12.939 This tax, the poll tax, was instituted in A.D. 6 00:12:12.939 --> 00:12:16.259 by means of the census of Quirinius, 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:17.679 who was a Roman god, 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:21.539 but the census of Quirinius when Judea became a Roman province. 00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:24.779 And most of us who are familiar with the story of Jesus 00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:27.259 are familiar with this census because this is the census 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:29.559 that took Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:32.659 This was the one, the gathering of the people. 00:12:33.539 --> 00:12:35.659 This was to count the people 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:40.799 so they knew how many people would have to pay this particular tax. 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:43.939 This was the very purpose of this census. 00:12:44.939 --> 00:12:50.360 The poll tax was used directly to finance the occupying Roman army. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:52.240 This is what it went to. 00:12:53.300 --> 00:12:58.919 And among the Jews, it was the most hated of all the many Roman taxes. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:05.320 As a head tax, as a tax put on every individual who was Jewish in this day, 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:08.639 it implied that Rome owned not only the land. 00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:12.500 Of course, they taxed for various purposes of land ownership 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:15.159 and transporting goods across the land 00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:17.539 and moving as a person across the land. 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:21.419 So these taxes said that Rome owned the land, 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:24.539 but this one said that they owned the people themselves. 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:29.219 As their sovereign, they had a right over to their very being. 00:13:29.339 --> 00:13:32.519 And of course, the Jews viewed rightly themselves as God's possession 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:36.419 and the land as a part of God's covenant with them. 00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:40.639 So this was a particularly hated tax. 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:47.059 Additionally, they could only pay this tax with the denarii. 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:48.319 It was a silver coin. 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:53.720 Rome was the only people allowed to mint coins made of silver or gold. 00:13:53.819 --> 00:13:56.939 This is one of the ways they controlled commerce in the day. 00:13:57.259 --> 00:14:00.220 So they could only pay this tax with a silver coin, the denarii. 00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:03.419 The denarius bore an image of Caesar's face on one side, 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:06.919 and on the other side was an image of Caesar sitting on his throne 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:08.740 in the robes of a deity. 00:14:10.199 --> 00:14:13.659 And the Jews considered the coin itself an idolatrous image, 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:17.120 and therefore the use of it idolatrous. 00:14:17.719 --> 00:14:22.000 So you kind of add insult to injury with this particular tax 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:23.939 that could only be paid this way. 00:14:24.819 --> 00:14:28.339 In fact, they were allowed to locally mint coins, 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:30.459 and they did so out of copper, 00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:33.279 and they took care of most of their trade and transaction 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:39.459 with these copper coins in order to avoid using the silver and gold coins of Rome. 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:42.639 But this one had to be paid with the denarii. 00:14:43.579 --> 00:14:45.579 The tax was so hated, in fact, 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:47.579 that in the year that it was instituted, 00:14:47.699 --> 00:14:49.879 it was the immediate cause of a revolt. 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:52.439 So in AD 6, there was a result of a revolt 00:14:52.439 --> 00:14:54.740 led by a guy named Judas of Galilee. 00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:57.279 Not Judas that would betray Jesus one day, 00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:58.620 very soon in our text, 00:14:58.620 --> 00:15:01.919 but led by a man named Judas of Galilee. 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:07.019 The Jewish historian Josephus described the call to revolt in these terms. 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:10.579 Judas called his fellow countrymen cowards 00:15:10.579 --> 00:15:13.439 for being willing to pay tribute to the Romans 00:15:13.439 --> 00:15:17.819 and for putting up with mortal masters in place of God. 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:20.959 This was how seriously they took this. 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:23.519 And in fact, at the beginning of Mark 13, 00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:27.259 we're going to see Jesus predict the destruction of the temple 00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:31.500 in AD 70, I believe is when it was destroyed. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:36.879 The revolt that led to that eventually was begun in AD 66. 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.679 Again, I hope I'm getting that correct. 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.699 I believe I am. 00:15:39.839 --> 00:15:42.199 And this was the tax that caused that. 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:47.839 This was the major cause of that revolt to happen in this place as well. 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:50.620 So this is a big, big deal. 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:53.839 In fact, this question that they asked of Jesus 00:15:53.839 --> 00:15:57.000 was a question that they had asked themselves many times. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:16:00.179 This is a question that was politically charged. 00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:02.899 There were probably many conversations happening about this, 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:05.539 and there were probably many opinions about what should 00:16:05.539 --> 00:16:10.500 and shouldn't be done concerning this particular tax. 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:13.659 So it's a very clever question. 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:16.120 Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:19.379 Should we pay them or should we not? 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:22.220 Because if Jesus answered no to their questions, 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:25.179 they could charge him with treason against Rome. 00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:27.679 But if he said yes, 00:16:27.859 --> 00:16:32.799 they could accuse him of disloyalty to Israel and her God. 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:34.959 So you see the place that they think, at least, 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:36.319 that they have him in. 00:16:37.199 --> 00:16:38.079 Kind of stuck. 00:16:38.359 --> 00:16:39.459 Rocking a hard place. 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:42.959 For our minds, at least, would be, wouldn't we? 00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:44.779 So they asked Jesus a clever question, 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:48.739 but Jesus' response is all the more clever, 00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:51.979 all the more excellent in dealing with them. 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:59.920 And what he does is he undermines his critic's position in two ways. 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.960 I am losing my voice this morning. 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:10.819 He undermines his critic's position in two ways. 00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:12.200 First, excuse me, 00:17:13.140 --> 00:17:14.839 ad hominem, which is Latin, 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.400 means to the man. 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:18.780 So his first argument is ad hominem, 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:22.580 which means that he discredits the one asking the question. 00:17:22.780 --> 00:17:25.280 And the second way he does it is theological. 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:28.420 So first, ad hominem, verse 15 says, 00:17:28.600 --> 00:17:30.000 but knowing their hypocrisy. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:32.360 He's very aware of what they've come to do. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:36.360 They've given him this false flattery at the beginning of verse 14 00:17:36.360 --> 00:17:38.000 with this following question. 00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:41.320 He's very aware of what it is they're trying to accomplish. 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:43.980 He says to them, 00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:47.019 why put me to the test? 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:50.960 Bring me a denarius and let me look at it. 00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:52.899 And they brought one. 00:17:53.679 --> 00:17:56.500 Now catch the silliness of what they're doing 00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.599 is they're coming to him 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:59.179 and they're saying to him, 00:17:59.379 --> 00:18:02.759 should we pay this tax with this coin 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:05.379 that we find to be idolatrous or should we not? 00:18:05.419 --> 00:18:06.500 And what he does is he says, 00:18:06.639 --> 00:18:07.879 well, I don't have one on me. 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:09.800 So why don't you bring me one 00:18:09.800 --> 00:18:11.280 and we'll talk about it. 00:18:11.320 --> 00:18:12.280 And they produce one. 00:18:13.080 --> 00:18:14.000 So he's got a group of men 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:17.040 who are carrying the very coin in their pocket. 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:20.780 That's how brilliantly played that is. 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:25.200 So they've got this idolatrous imperial coinage on them, 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:29.080 which means that they themselves paid the tax 00:18:29.080 --> 00:18:32.200 and therefore participated in what the crowds 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:34.280 would have found to be idolatrous. 00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:37.780 So he dismantles ad hominem the argument right there. 00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:38.600 But he goes on. 00:18:39.320 --> 00:18:43.060 He secondly lays out a theological argument. 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:46.040 Verse 16b. 00:18:47.060 --> 00:18:47.900 And he says to them, 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:52.000 whose likeness and inscription is this? 00:18:52.780 --> 00:18:53.900 They said to him, Caesar's. 00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:54.680 Jesus said to them, 00:18:55.260 --> 00:18:57.560 render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's 00:18:57.560 --> 00:19:00.620 and to God the things that are God's. 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:04.720 So he lays for us some theological understanding. 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:06.579 And this is not an understanding 00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:09.160 that should have been foreign to them. 00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:12.100 These men, particularly these men, 00:19:12.600 --> 00:19:14.019 knew their Old Testament. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.559 They had studied it. 00:19:15.620 --> 00:19:18.559 This was a culture that really knew their Scriptures. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.500 In fact, it's kind of a shame 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:22.620 that we claim to follow God. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.880 I hope that all of us do 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:27.160 with the purest intentions and motives of our heart. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:29.160 But yet these men really probably knew 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:31.299 their Scriptures better than we do. 00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:34.359 There's a text in Daniel 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:36.019 when Israel's been carried off 00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:37.139 into Babylonian captivity. 00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:37.919 They have been, 00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:40.399 the temple's been destroyed once again by Babylon. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.720 They've been carried away. 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.659 And Daniel sings praises to God 00:19:43.659 --> 00:19:45.919 in Daniel chapter 2, verse 21. 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.240 He says, 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:49.799 God removes kings and sets up kings. 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:51.299 As one example, 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:52.419 there are many other places 00:19:52.419 --> 00:19:53.379 that the Old Testament Scriptures 00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:56.240 talk about how God providentially 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:58.559 sets up governments. 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:01.599 sometimes as a judgment over the people, 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:04.679 sometimes as a way to care for the people, 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:06.279 but the people were to know 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:08.220 that it was ultimately God that reigned 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:11.139 because He established governments. 00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:14.919 This is a reality in our New Testament as well. 00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:16.819 Romans 13.1, Paul says, 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.859 let every person be subject 00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:20.279 to the governing authorities, 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:23.279 for there is no authority except from God, 00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:24.759 and those that exist 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:27.960 have been instituted by God. 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:30.539 And so what Jesus is saying to them 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:34.019 is that Caesar has the right to tax you, 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:37.440 and it's been given to him by God. 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:39.259 You don't have to agree with the tax. 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:41.460 You don't have to particularly enjoy the tax, 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:45.899 but He is a government placed above you, 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.940 and God did it. 00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:50.799 It is His reign over you by this government. 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:53.279 That makes us uncomfortable as Americans, doesn't it? 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:58.000 We exist in a democratic system, 00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:00.200 a democratic republic to be exact, 00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:03.180 and we want to control every part of our government, 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:03.839 and we should. 00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:05.099 We should exercise those rights 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:05.920 and do those things, 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:07.319 but we also must recognize 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:09.160 that when the people that we didn't vote for 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:09.920 end up in office, 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:12.399 God placed them there. 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:16.700 That puts an absolute knot in my stomach sometimes 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.579 when I think about it 00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:20.000 because it just doesn't seem that He would 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.179 in many cases. 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:25.279 But I don't have His view on the world. 00:21:25.899 --> 00:21:27.939 I don't fully understand His purposes 00:21:27.939 --> 00:21:28.619 and His ways 00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:30.759 and the way in which He's working good 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:32.059 on my behalf. 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.659 So I have to trust and know 00:21:33.659 --> 00:21:34.460 that He is, 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:37.419 and they should have done the same. 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.819 And this is what Jesus is saying to them, 00:21:39.199 --> 00:21:39.500 right? 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:50.119 And in this way, 00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:52.559 He brings further indictment on them 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:55.640 because they were successful in doing the one, 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.339 paying to Caesar what is Caesar's, 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:59.420 but they were failing to do the other 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:01.579 and rendering to God the things that are God's. 00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:03.900 They did not give Him the worship of their hearts. 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:06.799 Here they had the Christ standing before them, 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:08.779 and it was their intention to trick Him, 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.740 to trap Him, 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:12.099 to arrest and eventually destroy Him. 00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:12.819 And they'll do it. 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:14.299 They'll successfully do it 00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:16.099 by the purposes and plans of God 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:18.180 in two days on Friday. 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:20.899 So He totally dismantles their argument 00:22:20.899 --> 00:22:23.000 in a rather brilliant way. 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.500 And in fact, 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.940 the last little sentence we see 00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:27.139 from verse 17 says, 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:29.839 and they marveled at Him. 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:33.279 I believe that the pronoun here 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:36.119 is applying both to these men 00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:37.279 that came and spoke to Him. 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:40.000 They asked Him such a brilliant question 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.759 in their minds 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:42.160 that was bound to trap Him. 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:43.440 They didn't think there was any way 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:45.460 He could possibly get out of this question. 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:48.000 And as well as the people 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.740 who were around listening, 00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.960 there would have been other people gathered, 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:51.839 and they marveled at Him. 00:22:51.879 --> 00:22:54.139 They marveled at the brilliance 00:22:54.139 --> 00:22:56.039 of His response. 00:22:56.039 --> 00:23:00.579 So what is the application of this for us? 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:02.359 We see this picture, 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:04.480 this glimpse into the life of Jesus, 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:06.740 and seems to be so much wrapped 00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:09.259 into the political issues of the day. 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:11.399 What does it mean for us? 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:11.940 Firstly, 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.460 provided that our government 00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:16.059 doesn't require anything of us 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.619 outside the law of God, 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.460 we should obey our government. 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.720 We should submit ourselves 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.759 to the government 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:25.500 that God has placed over us. 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:28.079 Also not an easy thing to do. 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:28.539 In fact, 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:29.860 our Declaration of Independence 00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:30.759 asks of us 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:32.100 to overthrow any government 00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:34.220 that doesn't rightly defend 00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.880 the rights of individuals. 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.799 As an American, 00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:39.759 boy, 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:40.740 do I want to take up arms 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.779 and overthrow our government. 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:43.339 But as a Christian 00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:44.319 who lives in America, 00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:46.180 the proper thing 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.160 is for me to submit 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:48.620 to the government, 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:50.720 to the authority placed above me. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.579 I read to you a moment ago 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:52.759 Romans 13.1. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.700 I'd like to continue 00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:55.640 reading down through verse 7. 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.920 It would probably do you well 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.900 to go there with me. 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:01.980 Romans 13.1 00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:11.600 Let every person be subject 00:24:11.600 --> 00:24:12.799 to the governing authorities, 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:13.759 for there is no authority 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.799 except from God. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:16.440 And those that exist 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:18.759 have been instituted by God. 00:24:18.860 --> 00:24:19.680 That's verse 1 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:20.620 I read to you previously. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.400 Verse 2 says, 00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:22.299 Therefore, 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.839 whoever resists the authorities 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:25.600 resists what God has appointed, 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:27.740 and those who resist 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:29.680 will incur judgment. 00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:30.240 Right? 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.620 There's punishments 00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:32.799 for not obeying the laws 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.819 of the land. 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:35.799 For rulers are not a terror 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:36.799 to good conduct, 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:38.220 but to bad. 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:40.039 Would you have no fear 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:41.360 of the one who is in authority? 00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:42.920 Then do what is good, 00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.839 and you will receive 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:44.480 his approval. 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:46.019 For he is God's servant 00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:46.799 for your good. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:48.279 But if you do wrong, 00:24:48.379 --> 00:24:48.919 be afraid, 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.720 for he does not bear 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.859 the sword in vain. 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:52.480 For he is the servant of God, 00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.859 an avenger who carries out 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:56.079 God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:57.379 Therefore, 00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:59.259 one must be in subjection, 00:24:59.299 --> 00:25:01.359 not only to avoid God's wrath, 00:25:01.419 --> 00:25:02.480 but also for the sake 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.740 of conscience. 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.079 Now, 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:04.899 verse 6, 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.679 back to the point 00:25:06.679 --> 00:25:07.699 of our text in Mark. 00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:08.559 For because of this, 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.939 you also pay taxes. 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.099 So, 00:25:11.199 --> 00:25:11.699 obey the authorities 00:25:11.699 --> 00:25:12.419 and all the laws of the land, 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:14.419 and pay your taxes. 00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:15.059 For the authorities 00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:16.119 are ministers of God, 00:25:16.399 --> 00:25:17.679 attending to this very thing. 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.819 Pay to all what is owed to them, 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.639 taxes to whom taxes are owed, 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:23.759 revenue to whom revenue is owed, 00:25:24.139 --> 00:25:25.699 respect to whom respect is owed, 00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:27.679 honor to whom honor is owed. 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:29.659 If you'd like to study this further, 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.519 1 Peter 2, 00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:32.200 13 through 17, 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:34.120 would do well 00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:36.080 to take a look at that also. 00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:37.960 Did you guys all know 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:39.860 that the federal income tax 00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:41.000 is unconstitutional? 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:42.340 You know that? 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:43.279 It's a direct, 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:45.400 it's a direct non-apportion tax, 00:25:45.560 --> 00:25:46.540 which our Constitution 00:25:46.540 --> 00:25:47.560 actually forbids, 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:49.340 and on three separate occasions, 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.700 the Supreme Court has ruled 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:51.920 that that is the case, 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:54.480 that that is what the Constitution 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:56.100 guarantees us as a law. 00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:57.779 It's unconstitutional, 00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:58.740 the federal income tax. 00:25:58.740 --> 00:26:00.319 It's actually an illegal tax 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.380 on the people. 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.980 I have been so tempted 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:05.079 to not pay it, 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:07.000 and to take them to court, 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.779 and to be a real pain 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:10.660 about the whole issue altogether, 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:12.039 but you know what? 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.740 I wouldn't win. 00:26:13.660 --> 00:26:14.720 I don't have the money 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:16.319 to throw at that kind of a lawsuit. 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:19.160 It would be an entire waste of time, 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.539 and all I would end up doing 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:23.620 is being a real pain, right? 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:25.440 They would end up flicking me away 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.779 and go on with their business 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:28.519 the way they have all along, 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.859 and so I believe 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:31.380 the right thing for me to do 00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:33.539 as an American Christian 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:35.099 is to pay the tax. 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.359 They ask for it, 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.319 pay the tax, 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.420 recognize that ultimately 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:39.500 it's all God's money, 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.920 it all belongs to Him, 00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:42.200 and He's always supplied 00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:43.400 for every one of my needs. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.240 Would I like to have 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.079 a percentage of it back 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:45.900 to use for other things? 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:46.640 Absolutely. 00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:47.960 But He's aware, 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.440 and He knows what I need, 00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:50.660 and He provides amply 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:52.799 for all that I need, 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:54.879 and so we should be submissive 00:26:54.879 --> 00:26:56.159 in that way. 00:26:57.119 --> 00:26:58.440 The day that the IRS agents 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.659 stop carrying guns, 00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:01.000 I might reconsider, 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:03.980 but for now, 00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:05.659 this is where we stand. 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.599 It's appropriate, 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.799 provided that our government 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:09.159 doesn't ask us to do something 00:27:09.159 --> 00:27:10.480 that's outside the law of God. 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:13.379 We are still subject to God's law, 00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:15.840 and we will obey Him firstly. 00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:17.260 Secondly, 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:20.300 we should submit ourselves 00:27:20.300 --> 00:27:23.080 to the Lord's leading. 00:27:23.800 --> 00:27:24.560 So I've talked about 00:27:24.560 --> 00:27:26.800 the brilliance of Jesus Christ. 00:27:27.520 --> 00:27:29.640 He is to be marveled at 00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:32.300 as we watch Him live out His life. 00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:33.440 Amazing. 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:35.080 But we have to remember this. 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.540 There's much record of this 00:27:36.540 --> 00:27:38.220 in the Gospel according to John. 00:27:38.300 --> 00:27:40.060 John 5.19 00:27:40.060 --> 00:27:41.320 So Jesus said to them, 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:43.539 Truly, truly, I say to you, 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:45.460 the Son can do nothing 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.500 of His own accord, 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:47.779 but only what He sees 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.799 the Father doing. 00:27:49.399 --> 00:27:50.799 For whatever the Father does, 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:54.039 that the Son does likewise. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.980 In the Trinity, 00:27:56.419 --> 00:27:58.059 this Trinitarian relationship, 00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.500 we believe that Jesus 00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:01.159 is fully God, 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.939 and He does not set aside 00:28:02.939 --> 00:28:04.559 His deity when He came to earth. 00:28:04.939 --> 00:28:06.960 He became fully man, 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:09.220 but He remains fully God. 00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.819 So there's these three parts. 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:12.579 The Father, the Son, and the Spirit, 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:14.439 and they coexist together. 00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:16.259 All of them fully God, 00:28:16.379 --> 00:28:18.500 and yet distinct in some ways. 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:19.500 And that is the way in which 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.939 they order themselves. 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:24.619 Fully God, yet He takes command 00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.720 from God. 00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:28.279 He lays aside authority, 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.879 and He lets the Father God, 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:33.399 this part of the Godhead, 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.939 speak to Him 00:28:34.939 --> 00:28:37.579 and tell Him what He ought to do. 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.879 Again, John 8, 28, 00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:40.379 He says, 00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:42.619 I do nothing on my own authority, 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:47.259 but speak just as the Father taught me. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.480 And this is the way we are meant 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:51.079 to live as well. 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.859 Not to carefully study 00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:54.779 the brilliance of Jesus' arguments, 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:57.319 and to become masterful logicians 00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.319 the way that He was, 00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:59.879 but simply to relent 00:28:59.879 --> 00:29:01.799 our own wills and desires, 00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:02.980 our very words, 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:04.319 and listen to what the Father 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:06.279 would have us say. 00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:09.679 John 16, 13, 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.559 Jesus says, 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:12.059 When the Spirit of truth comes, 00:29:12.379 --> 00:29:13.440 He will guide you 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:15.059 into all the truth. 00:29:15.679 --> 00:29:16.639 For He will not speak 00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:17.599 on His own authority, 00:29:17.679 --> 00:29:18.740 but whatever He hears, 00:29:19.179 --> 00:29:20.059 He will speak, 00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:21.279 and He will declare to you 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:23.379 the things that are to come. 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:26.339 So this is what we are to do as well. 00:29:26.419 --> 00:29:27.279 Take an example 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.940 from the way in which 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:31.759 Jesus handles conflict in His day, 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:34.519 and to handle it with the same type 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:36.440 and measure of grace. 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:38.079 And that is to depend fully 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:39.599 on the Father God, 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:42.179 to fully obey Him in everything, 00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.679 that we might honor Him 00:29:43.679 --> 00:29:45.539 with all that we do. 00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:47.539 This is the high call 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.559 for those of us 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:50.059 who are disciples of Jesus Christ, 00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:51.319 to lay aside, 00:29:51.419 --> 00:29:52.399 to take up our cross daily, 00:29:52.439 --> 00:29:53.319 to follow Him. 00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:55.759 This is what we are meant to be, 00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:57.439 to be no longer self-governing, 00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:58.639 but governed by God. 00:29:59.419 --> 00:30:01.639 The church is now a theocracy. 00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:04.399 We are reigned over by our Lord. 00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:06.259 This is why the distinction, 00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:07.199 I think, is important to make, 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:07.799 that we are Christians 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:09.100 who live in America, 00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:11.559 not so much Americans. 00:30:13.080 --> 00:30:14.360 And this is a very serious thing. 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.600 If we, in fact, 00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:17.100 there's a God that exists 00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:18.680 and reigns over the world, 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:21.360 I would like to live in His kingdom. 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:23.259 I think this is the right 00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:24.019 and proper thing. 00:30:24.100 --> 00:30:24.740 The Scriptures promise 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:26.220 that someday He's going to bring 00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:28.460 all of the work to a culmination. 00:30:28.580 --> 00:30:30.240 All of the kingdom establishment, 00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:31.220 all the kingdom of building, 00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:32.120 it'll come to an end. 00:30:32.380 --> 00:30:34.940 He will destroy the evil of this world, 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.660 and He will establish 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.519 His kingdom forever. 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.519 I want to be counted 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.180 among the number 00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:40.259 that praise Him in those days. 00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.559 The Scriptures tell us 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.339 what we must do 00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:44.460 for that to be the case. 00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.960 Repent and believe. 00:30:47.079 --> 00:30:47.819 Jesus is the way, 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.639 the truth, 00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:49.920 and the life. 00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:51.879 There aren't multiple ways 00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:53.059 to find this out. 00:30:53.139 --> 00:30:53.740 It is through 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:55.059 the propitiation 00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:56.299 of Jesus Christ. 00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.920 He took our punishment 00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.740 in Him. 00:30:59.079 --> 00:31:00.259 If you will believe 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:01.139 this is the truth 00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:02.879 for you today. 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:05.540 So the call for all of us always, 00:31:05.620 --> 00:31:06.780 whether we are found in Christ 00:31:06.780 --> 00:31:08.120 and can say with confidence 00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:09.480 that we are Christians, 00:31:09.880 --> 00:31:11.640 that we are disciples of Christ, 00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:13.360 there's going to be sin in our hearts, 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:14.840 ways in which we haven't subjected 00:31:14.840 --> 00:31:16.540 ourselves to His leadership. 00:31:17.540 --> 00:31:19.040 Ways in which we'd love 00:31:19.040 --> 00:31:20.620 to rise up against this government. 00:31:21.780 --> 00:31:22.800 We should repent. 00:31:23.020 --> 00:31:24.180 We should turn back to Him 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:25.280 in belief. 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.240 And if you're not found 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:28.399 in Christ this morning, 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.319 you don't know that. 00:31:29.399 --> 00:31:30.379 You've never placed 00:31:30.379 --> 00:31:32.799 saving faith in Him. 00:31:32.859 --> 00:31:33.259 We're going to look 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.180 at a beautiful picture 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:35.480 of what that looks like 00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:36.220 and what it means 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:37.220 in just a few moments. 00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:38.660 It's not too late. 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:40.519 What a wonderful morning. 00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.720 A beautiful day 00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:43.660 to repent and believe. 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.399 And I would ask you 00:31:44.399 --> 00:31:45.779 to do that together. 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:47.879 Let's pray. 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.859 For this is the will of God. 00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:56.160 That by doing good 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:57.079 you should put to silence 00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:58.899 the ignorance of foolish people. 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.799 Live as people who are free, 00:32:00.879 --> 00:32:01.740 not using your freedom 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.980 as a cover-up for evil, 00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:05.700 but living as servants of God. 00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:10.139 There was sermon number one. 00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.539 Ready for sermon number two? 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:14.599 It'll be much shorter. 00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:15.619 So we're going to do 00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:16.440 some baptisms here 00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.599 in just a few moments. 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:18.220 And just to make sure 00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:19.279 everybody's minds 00:32:19.879 --> 00:32:21.119 and we hope hearts 00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:21.879 are caught up 00:32:21.879 --> 00:32:22.899 to what we're about 00:32:22.899 --> 00:32:23.559 to do together, 00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:25.079 let me say to you 00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:26.319 that we are what are called 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:27.960 credo-baptists 00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:29.079 at Christ's Family Church, 00:32:29.159 --> 00:32:29.779 which means that 00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:30.939 we believe that baptism 00:32:30.939 --> 00:32:32.099 is an ordinance of the church 00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:33.480 properly administered 00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:35.659 only after an individual 00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:36.559 has made a profession 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:38.740 of faith in Jesus Christ. 00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:39.879 We believe this 00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:41.039 for a number of reasons. 00:32:41.159 --> 00:32:41.980 Let me give it to you 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.419 in brief this morning. 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:44.839 Firstly, we see 00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:47.059 John the baptizer's baptism. 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.919 John's baptism 00:32:47.919 --> 00:32:49.419 found in Mark 1.4 00:32:49.419 --> 00:32:51.419 is a baptism of repentance, 00:32:51.419 --> 00:32:53.419 a declaration of repentance. 00:32:53.420 --> 00:32:54.220 Repentance. 00:32:54.340 --> 00:32:54.740 The repentance 00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.960 had taken place. 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:56.600 It was a picture 00:32:56.600 --> 00:32:58.300 of an expressed desire 00:32:58.300 --> 00:32:59.340 to be made right 00:32:59.340 --> 00:33:01.019 with God. 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.940 When Peter preaches 00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:04.220 on the day of Pentecost, 00:33:05.060 --> 00:33:05.779 chapter 2, 00:33:05.840 --> 00:33:06.660 verse 40 and 41, 00:33:06.840 --> 00:33:07.259 he says, 00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:08.140 Save yourselves 00:33:08.140 --> 00:33:10.300 from this crooked generation. 00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:12.220 So those who received 00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:12.860 His Word 00:33:12.860 --> 00:33:13.759 were baptized. 00:33:14.560 --> 00:33:15.779 And there were out of that day 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:17.539 about 3,000 souls. 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:18.900 So they believed 00:33:18.900 --> 00:33:19.940 and then 00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:21.519 they were baptized. 00:33:22.040 --> 00:33:22.759 Now remember that 00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:25.060 many of these individuals 00:33:25.060 --> 00:33:26.160 were Jewish in this day, 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.100 had received a sign 00:33:27.100 --> 00:33:28.000 of covenant promise 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:29.200 already. 00:33:30.580 --> 00:33:32.420 Back in Matthew 3, 00:33:32.620 --> 00:33:33.759 verse 7-9, 00:33:33.840 --> 00:33:34.540 again we see 00:33:34.540 --> 00:33:35.640 John the Baptist 00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:36.420 and he's out 00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:36.940 in the wilderness 00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:38.160 and he's baptizing 00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:39.080 in the Jordan 00:33:39.080 --> 00:33:40.300 and in verse 7 00:33:40.300 --> 00:33:40.920 of chapter 3 00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:41.340 he says, 00:33:41.420 --> 00:33:41.880 But when he saw 00:33:41.880 --> 00:33:42.600 many of the Pharisees 00:33:42.600 --> 00:33:42.920 and Sadducees 00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:44.000 coming to his baptism, 00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:45.340 he said to them, 00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:46.120 now get this, 00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:47.600 here's the Pharisees, 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:48.500 the Sadducees, 00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:49.419 these men 00:33:49.419 --> 00:33:51.139 who were self-proclaimed 00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:52.119 followers of God. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.059 He says to them, 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.839 You brood of vipers, 00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:56.119 who warned you 00:33:56.119 --> 00:33:57.459 to flee from the wrath to come? 00:33:58.199 --> 00:33:59.159 Bear fruit 00:33:59.159 --> 00:34:00.179 in keeping 00:34:00.179 --> 00:34:01.939 with repentance. 00:34:02.939 --> 00:34:03.519 They came out 00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:04.000 to heap on 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:04.719 some other 00:34:04.719 --> 00:34:05.799 religious rite, 00:34:05.939 --> 00:34:06.579 some other 00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:08.199 ceremony 00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:08.960 that they thought 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.679 would help them 00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:10.380 gain 00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:11.759 proper 00:34:11.759 --> 00:34:12.980 credit 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:13.719 with God. 00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:15.119 And he says to them, 00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:16.039 now bear fruit 00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:16.839 in keeping with repentance. 00:34:16.839 --> 00:34:17.360 Show that you 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:19.019 actually believe 00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:19.940 that you're sinful 00:34:19.940 --> 00:34:21.079 and need God 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:22.140 and need to turn to him 00:34:22.140 --> 00:34:23.440 and then you can 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.180 be baptized 00:34:24.180 --> 00:34:24.740 and they 00:34:24.740 --> 00:34:26.099 went away 00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:27.059 after this. 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:27.420 So, 00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:28.160 we are 00:34:28.160 --> 00:34:29.180 credo-baptists 00:34:29.180 --> 00:34:30.140 simply because 00:34:30.140 --> 00:34:30.940 we believe that 00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:32.220 baptism is a picture, 00:34:32.340 --> 00:34:32.660 again, 00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:33.500 a symbol. 00:34:33.620 --> 00:34:34.420 It doesn't administer 00:34:34.420 --> 00:34:35.079 any grace. 00:34:35.220 --> 00:34:36.320 It's not salvific, 00:34:36.680 --> 00:34:37.420 but it's a picture 00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:38.519 of a work that God's 00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.720 already accomplished 00:34:39.720 --> 00:34:40.680 in the heart 00:34:40.680 --> 00:34:41.660 of an individual. 00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:43.640 An inner thing 00:34:43.640 --> 00:34:44.660 that we're now showing 00:34:44.659 --> 00:34:45.759 in a symbolic 00:34:45.759 --> 00:34:47.920 outward way. 00:34:48.899 --> 00:34:49.099 Now, 00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:49.719 we baptize 00:34:49.719 --> 00:34:50.420 by immersion 00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:52.179 for two reasons. 00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:54.559 Because it's not easy 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.659 getting this set up. 00:34:57.599 --> 00:34:58.899 And some people 00:34:58.899 --> 00:34:59.739 devote space 00:34:59.739 --> 00:35:00.259 in a building, 00:35:00.379 --> 00:35:01.219 which I understand 00:35:01.219 --> 00:35:01.679 why, 00:35:01.779 --> 00:35:02.859 with steps 00:35:02.859 --> 00:35:04.519 and heated water 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:06.859 and because 00:35:06.859 --> 00:35:08.159 they believe this. 00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:09.940 And thank you guys 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.279 who helped me 00:35:10.279 --> 00:35:10.699 set this up. 00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:11.359 It was so much easier 00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:11.800 with hope 00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:12.340 this week. 00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:14.599 The Greek word, 00:35:14.700 --> 00:35:14.860 though, 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.340 so firstly, 00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:15.900 the Greek word 00:35:15.900 --> 00:35:16.760 from which we derive 00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:17.440 the English word 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:18.160 baptize 00:35:18.160 --> 00:35:19.440 is baptizo. 00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:20.120 The Greek word 00:35:20.120 --> 00:35:20.480 baptizo, 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:20.980 where you see it 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.599 in your scriptures, 00:35:22.120 --> 00:35:22.920 translated as 00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:24.059 baptized or baptized, 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:25.519 which means, 00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:27.480 and all Greek scholars, 00:35:27.720 --> 00:35:28.420 whether believers 00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:28.920 or not, 00:35:29.300 --> 00:35:30.420 agree to dunk 00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:30.960 repeatedly 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:32.440 or drown. 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:34.039 It's a very emphatic, 00:35:34.200 --> 00:35:36.320 very emphatic language 00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:37.000 what that 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:38.240 baptize 00:35:38.240 --> 00:35:40.000 means. 00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:42.200 Also, 00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:42.740 secondly, 00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:43.519 what we believe 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:44.180 the ordinance 00:35:44.180 --> 00:35:45.019 of baptism 00:35:45.019 --> 00:35:45.820 represents. 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:46.640 What is it meant 00:35:46.640 --> 00:35:47.620 to picture? 00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:49.340 Romans 6, 00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:50.680 3 and 4 says, 00:35:51.240 --> 00:35:51.860 Do you not know 00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:52.660 that all of us 00:35:52.660 --> 00:35:53.460 who have been baptized 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.840 into Christ Jesus 00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:55.700 were baptized 00:35:55.700 --> 00:35:57.760 into his death? 00:35:58.360 --> 00:35:59.200 We were buried, 00:35:59.440 --> 00:35:59.579 therefore, 00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:00.300 with him 00:36:00.300 --> 00:36:01.000 by baptism 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:01.599 into death 00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:02.460 in order that, 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:03.720 just as Christ 00:36:03.720 --> 00:36:04.800 was raised from the dead 00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:05.880 by the glory of the Father, 00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:07.880 we too might walk 00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:09.620 in newness of life. 00:36:09.619 --> 00:36:11.179 So it's a picture 00:36:11.179 --> 00:36:11.980 of what happens 00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:13.039 when we place faith 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:14.279 in Jesus Christ. 00:36:14.659 --> 00:36:15.559 The old, 00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:17.519 sin-sick part 00:36:17.519 --> 00:36:18.139 of ourselves 00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:18.900 dies, 00:36:19.759 --> 00:36:20.219 and we're now 00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:21.420 given a new heart, 00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:23.199 a new capacity 00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:24.639 to follow God. 00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:25.199 So the old 00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:26.079 has gone away, 00:36:26.219 --> 00:36:27.940 the new has come. 00:36:28.039 --> 00:36:28.380 And so, 00:36:28.619 --> 00:36:29.440 we believe rightly 00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:30.539 we immerse people. 00:36:30.659 --> 00:36:31.000 We put them 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.839 under the water 00:36:31.839 --> 00:36:32.719 just like you'd be put 00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:34.019 under the ground 00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:35.259 if you died. 00:36:35.339 --> 00:36:35.839 It's a more 00:36:35.839 --> 00:36:37.279 perfect picture 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:38.860 of what that looks like, 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:40.519 buried and raised 00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:41.760 once again. 00:36:42.140 --> 00:36:42.780 Around here, 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:43.519 because many of you 00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:43.760 are guests, 00:36:43.800 --> 00:36:44.420 I'm going to tell us again, 00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:45.400 I jokingly say 00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:46.940 that when our tradition 00:36:46.940 --> 00:36:47.820 changes to just 00:36:47.820 --> 00:36:48.640 laying people out 00:36:48.640 --> 00:36:49.060 on the ground 00:36:49.060 --> 00:36:50.220 and tossing a little 00:36:50.220 --> 00:36:50.880 dirt in their face 00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.880 and the funeral's done, 00:36:52.460 --> 00:36:53.640 we may rethink 00:36:53.640 --> 00:36:55.480 baptizing by immersion, 00:36:55.600 --> 00:36:56.200 but until then, 00:36:56.260 --> 00:36:57.200 as long as the way 00:36:57.200 --> 00:36:58.140 in which we deal 00:36:58.140 --> 00:36:59.200 with dead bodies 00:36:59.200 --> 00:37:00.019 is putting them 00:37:00.019 --> 00:37:00.740 in the ground, 00:37:01.280 --> 00:37:02.420 we'll do the same 00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:03.340 with baptism 00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:04.180 for the picture 00:37:04.180 --> 00:37:05.140 that it represents. 00:37:05.139 --> 00:37:06.819 And so, 00:37:06.900 --> 00:37:07.559 with that said, 00:37:07.639 --> 00:37:08.699 I'm just so incredibly 00:37:08.699 --> 00:37:09.480 pleased that we've 00:37:09.480 --> 00:37:10.400 got to baptize 00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:11.719 so many across 00:37:11.719 --> 00:37:12.299 the years, 00:37:12.519 --> 00:37:14.000 both new Christians 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:14.759 and those who have 00:37:14.759 --> 00:37:15.659 just come to the conviction 00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:16.519 that they ought to be 00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:17.819 baptized as believers. 00:37:18.579 --> 00:37:19.440 It's a blessing 00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:20.259 to get to do it. 00:37:20.379 --> 00:37:21.039 I'm really, 00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:21.599 really joyful 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:22.379 to get to participate 00:37:22.379 --> 00:37:22.879 in it 00:37:22.879 --> 00:37:24.219 and be such a major 00:37:24.219 --> 00:37:24.759 part in it.